Interdental massage device



April 30, 1957 s. ODERMAN 2,790,441 INTERDENTAL. MASSAGE DEVICE Filed July 5, 1955 INVENTOR U'Zmae/ dag/W700 ATTORNEY INTERDENTAL MASSAGE DEVICE Samuel Oderman, Asbnry Park, N. J., assignor to Pycope,

Incorporated, Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of Missouri Application July 5, 1955, Serial No. 520,056

2 Claims. (Cl. 128-62) The present invention relates generally to improve ments in dental appliances, and in particular it relates to an improved combination tooth brush and gum massaging device.

It has long been a common practice to mount an interdental massaging device or prod adjacent to the end of a tooth brush handle opposite to the head end thereof. This interdental massaging device or prod has been formed generally of a resilient material and of such length and cross-sectional shape as to fit the interdental spaces. The axis of the massaging device or prod generally has been perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tooth brush handle since that is most convenient for use.

While this arrangement greatly facilitates the use of the interdental massaging device or prod, the mounting or storing of this type oftooth brush in the conventional bathroom fixture serving as a tooth brush holder is very difficult, if not impossible. The ordinary tooth brush holder generally includes a horizontal shelf having a vertical opening or openings of slightly greater dimensions than the corresponding dimensions of the tooth brush handle transverse cross section, and of lesser dimensions than the tooth brush head. In stored condition, the tooth brush head rests on the top face of the shelf and the handle depends through the shelf vertical opening. The brush is removed merely by raising it out of engagement with the brush holder opening. It is thus apparent that the conventional bathroom tooth brush holder cannot be employed with the combination tooth brush and interdental prod of the type above described except with great difiiculty, if at all.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved dental appliance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved combination tooth brush and gum massaging device.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved combination tooth brush and interdental prod.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved combination tooth brush and interdental prod capable of storing in the conventional bathroom tooth brush holder.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved combination tooth brush and interdental prod of a structure permitting the use of the prod in a plurality of positions and facilitating the storage of the prod in the conventional tooth brush holder.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a tooth brush embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed front elevational view of the gum massaging end of the tooth brush; and

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2, the massaging element being illustrated in extended position and by broken line in operative and intermediate positions.

In a broad sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of a dental appliance comprising a tooth brush including a head portion and an elongated handle portion extending from said head portion, an interdental massage member including a tapered prod element carried on a base portion, the transverse cross sectional dimensions of said base portion not exceeding substantially the corresponding transverse cross sectional dimensions of said handle portion, said base member being rotatably mounted adjacent to the free end of said handle portion and being swingable between positions coaxial with said handle portion and substantially perpendicular thereto.

Reference is now made to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

wherein numeral 10 generally designates a tooth brush of conventional configuration, including a body member 12 preferably formed of an organic thermosetting or thermoplastic material, or any other suitable material, as wood. The head end of the tooth brush 10 consists of a plurality of tufts of natural or synthetic bristles 14 having their bases embedded in the head end of the body member 12 to define a brushing head. The body member 12 is preferably of rectangular transverse cross section. A rectangular slot 16 is formed in the handle end 18 of the body member 12 to provide a pair of arms 20, defining a yoke portion 22.

The massaging element is designated by the numeral 24 and is preferably formed of an elastomer, such as natural or synthetic rubber, or any other suitably resilient material. The massaging element 24 includes a base portion 26 of semispherical configuration having flattened end faces 28 and a flat diametrically extending base portion 30. The base portion 30 is of roughly rectangular configuration with dimensions approximately those of the corresponding dimensions of the transverse cross section of the body member 12, so that when the massaging element is in extended position the base 26 forms an extension of the body member 12. Depending from the base portion 26 and preferably integrally formed therewith is a sharply conical prod member 32. p

A hinge member 34 is provided, with an enlarged head portion 36 embedded in the massaging element base 26. A shank 38 extends rearwardly from the head 36 and registers with the longitudinal slot 16 formed in the body member 12. A pin 40 passes through corresponding aligned openings formed in the yoke legs 20 and in the shank 38 to permit rotation of the hinge member 34 and the carried massage member 24 about the longitudinal axis of the pin 40.

It should be noted that in assembled condition the base 26 of the massaging element is held under compression against the confronting faces of the brush body member 12 by the hinge member 34. Furthermore, it is important that the distance between the center of the pin 40 and the end face and the upper and lower faces of the body member 12 is less than the distance between the center of the pin 40 and the adjacent corners 42 of the handle and of the body member 12. In addition, the corners 42 are rounded off as shown in the drawing.

By reason of the above relative dimensions and positioning, the massage element 26 will firmly maintain a position projecting along the longitudinal axis of the body member 12, as illustrated in full lines in the figures of the drawing, or a position perpendicular to the said longitudinal axis as shown in broken line in Figure 3 of the drawing.

When the massage element 24 is in position intermediate the aforesaid longitudinal extending and perpendicular positions, as illustrated in position B in Figure 3 of the drawing, it may bind, due to the compression of Patented Apr. 30, 1957" the resilient base 26, but it will shift in response to slight movement one way or another into axial or perpendicular positions with respect to the handle depending on the direction of movement, whereupon the massage element 24 will snap into either of three positions as defined above.

When it is desired to use the device for interdental massaging, the massage element 24 may be snapped into either of the perpendicular position or into the longitudinally extending position. However, when it is desired to insert the tooth brush into an apertured support, the massage element 24 is adjusted to its extended position as illustrated in Figure l of the drawing, whereupon it may be disposed through the openings of theconventional holder shelf.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, numerous alterations and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit hereof.

I claim:

1. A dental appliance comprising an elongated handle terminating in a yoke member including a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending legs, an interdental massage member formed of a resilient yieldable material and including a tapered prod element carried on a base portion, the transverse cross sectional dimensions of said base portion not exceeding substantially the correspondandthe width of said base portion exceeding the distance between said yoke legs, a pin engaged by and between said yoke legs and a shank member secured to and extending perpendicularly from said pin and engaging said massage member, said base portion being held in compressed condition against the abutting face of said handle, and said member being swingable between positions substantially coaxial with said handle and substantially perpendicular thereto.

2. A dental appliance in accordance with claim 1, wherein the distance of said pin from the bottom face and end face of said handle portion is less than the dis tance of said pin from the edge of said handle defined by the intersection of said handle bottom face and end face.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES, PATENTS 1,279,926 Smith Sept. 24, 1918 2,016,597 Drake Oct. s, 1935 2,141,969 Benz Dec. 27, 1938 2,297,714 Nesbitt Oct. 6, 1942 I FOREIGN PATENTS 169,312 Switzerland Aug. 1, 1934 

